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Copy 1 



IH KEPORT 

OF THE g^ 1^^^ --^^l^^-^^^T^ 

STATE ENGINEER AND SURVEYOR 



RELATIVE TO 



MAP OF THE STATE. 



Transmitted to the Legislature February 28, 1857. 



ALBANY: 

C. VAN BENTHUTSEN, PRINTER TO THE LEGISLATURE, 
No. 407 Broadway. 

1857. 



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m ASSEIBLI FEB. 28, 1857. 



REEMT 
Of the State Eaffiiieer aad Surveyor relative to map of the 



Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, 
Mbany, February 26, 1857 : 

To the Hoix. D. W. C. Littlejohn, 

Speaker of the Assembly: 

Sir — The State Engineer and Surveyor has received a resolu- 
tion, passed by the House of Assembly, of which the following 

is a copy : 

STATE OF NEW-YORK : 

Assembly Chamber, ? 

Mba7iy, February 18, 1857. i 

Resolved, That the State Engineer and Surveyor be requested 
to report to the Legislature at his earliest convenience whether 
the provisions of article 1, title 6 of the Revised Statutes have 
been complied with in relation to a map of the State to be re- 
tained in the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, upon 
which has been delineated the bounds of all the towns and coun- 
ties erected or altered by the Legislature; also whether the ma- 
terials for such a map are now on file in said office, and if not, 
whether the State Engineer and Surveyor has any, and what 
knowledge of the existence of such information, and any power 
under existing laws to obtain and embody the same in an accu- 

[Assembly, No. 114 | I L^SO S.E.J 



' 3 [Assembly 

rate map of the State, and if any and what legislation is neces- 
sary in order to enable the State Engineer and Surveyor to pre- 
pare an accurate atlas, composed of each county in the State, 
accompanied by such statistical information as may be deemed 
desirable, together with a revised map of the State as recom- 
mended to the Legislature in the late annual report of the State 
Engineer; also an estimate of the cost of the same, together with 
such other suggestions and information upon the subject as he 
may think the interests of the State require. 

By order, 

WM. EICHARDSON, Clerk. 
and in reply thereto, has the honor to submit the following 

EEPORT. 

The second section of the act referred to in the resolution, re- 
quires that "the State Engineer and Surveyor shall retain in his 
office, a map of this State, and shall from time to time delineate 
thereon the bounds of all the towns or counties erected or alter- 
ed by the Legislature. 

There is no map of the above description now in the office of 
the State Engineer, and the only approximation towards it, is an 
old State map and atlas, by David H. Burr, compiled of the 
counties in the State, and published by Stone & Clark in the 
year 1839. 

There is no authenticated record or map of the bounds of all 
the towns or counties erected or altered by the Legislature, on 
file in this office from which an accurate map can be compiled. 
And the State Engineer has no knowledge of the existence of 
such information, except that some enterprising map publishers 
have recently published maps of several of the counties of the 
State, and it is believed that materials for the publication of 
maps of nearly all the counties have been, and are now being 
prepared by these publishers at an expense of from thirty to 
forty thousand dollars as a matter of private enterprise and spe- 
culation. 

It has occurred to the State Engineer, that the information 
already obtained by these gentlemen may be made available to 



No 114.] S 

the county clerks, and to the State, for a consideration which 
the State can consistently grant, by securing to these parties the 
use of the copy right of the atlas and maps of the State for a 
certain number of years. ^ 

A correspondence upon this subject is annexed to this report, 
from which it will 'be seen that the use of the copy rights is re- 
garded as a very desirable consideration by these parties, and 
that it will go far towards furnishing the State with the informa- 
tion designed to be obtained. 

The State Engineer has no means of judging of the accuracy 
of the surveys and other information obtained by these parties, 
but there will be no difficulty in deciding, after a proper inves- 
tigation, as to whether they are sufficiently accurate for the 
purposes contemplated. 

The correspondence hereto annexed between Governor Sew- 
ard, Professor Bache, and Messrs. Blodget and Lesley, of ascer- 
taining the latitude and longitude, altitude and true meridian of 
all the county seats in the State, and also suggestions with re- 
ference to geological, mineralogical and climatological statistics, 
will show the great importance attached to this branch of the 
subject, by these distinguished men. And the State Engineer 
cannot urge too strongly upon the Legislature the importance of 
making provisions for the speedy accomplishment of a work so 
desirable in all respects, and one which will prove to be credita- 
ble to the great and wealthy State of New -York. 

A rough and imperfect draft of a bill is submitted herewith 
for the consideration of the Legislature, as embodying substanti- 
ally the plan recommended for carrying out the suggestions con- 
tained in the late annual report of the State Engineer upon this 
subject. 

Respectfully submitted, 

S. SEYMOUR, 



4 [Assembly 

AN ACT to provide for the compilation of an accurate map and. 
atlas of the State ^ 

The People of the State of JYew-York represented in Senate and 
Assembly do enact as follows: 

Sec. 1 . It shall be the duty of the supervisor of each town or 
ward in this State to furnish to the clerk of the county in which 
such town or ward may be located, whenever the same may be 
required by said clerk, the whole or any portion of an accurate 
survey of said town or ward, showing the boundary lines of the 
same with courses and distances, together with the true position 
and delineation of all creeks, rivers, lakes, coasts, islands, roads, 
streets, railroads, canals and boundary lines of all cities and 
villages, together with all lines of original grants, lots and re- 
servations, together with such other information as may be re- 
quired by the clerk of the county in which said township or 
ward may be situated, and in the manner and form prescribed 
by the clerk of said county. 

§ 2. It shall be the duty of the clerk of each county in this 
State to compile or cause to be compiled, from said township or 
ward maps, a true and authentic map of said county, which said 
county map shall be made in all respects to conform with direc- 
tions furnished to the said county clerk by the State Engineer 
and Surveyor. Upon the completion of said county map, the 
original shall be placed on file in the office of the county clerk 
of said county, and a true copy thereof, to which shall be affixed 
the certificate and seal of said county clerk, attesting its authen- 
ticity, shall be forwarded by said county clerk to the office of 
the State Engineer and Surveyor in the city of Albany. 

§ 3. All cases of dispute between adjoining towns as to the 
lines dividing the same, may be compromised and settled by the 
supervisors of such towns, and a correct survey of such lines as 
determined shall be madej but no such line shall affect the right 
or title to any property of any individual or corporation in ei- 
ther town ; and in case said disputes are not compromised and 
settled as above authorized, within three months after the pas- 
sage of this act, all such disputes shall then immediately be 



No. 114.J 5 

brought to the notice of the State Engineer and Surveyor, to- 
gether with all the proofs and allegations connected therewith, 
in order that he may hear and determine the same in accordance 
with the provisions of part 1, chap, 8, title 6, sec. 5 of the Ke- 
vised Statutes. 

^ 4. In case of the refusal or neglect of any supervisor or 
county clerk to perform the duties enjoined on him by the pro- 
visions of this act, it shall be the duty of the State Engineer and 
Surveyor to employ competent surveyors and draftsmen, and to 
cause to be prepared such accurate township, county and city 
maps, as are described in sections 1, 2 and 7, of this act. 

§ 5. It shall be the duty of the State Engineer and Surveyor, 
on the receipt of the maps ot the several counties and cities of 
this State as provided for in this act, to compile or cause to be 
compiled from the same, an accurate map of this State on a scale 

of miles to the inch, which said map shall be kept in some 

convenient and accessible place in the oflB.ce of the State Engi- 
neer and Surveyor, and shall at all times be accessible to and 
subject to the inspection of the public oflS.cers and citizens of this 
State at all reasonable hours; but shall at no time be removed 
from, the office of said State Engineer and Surveyor. The ca- 
nals, railroads, and principal highways of the State, together 
with the streams, lakes, sounds, coasts, and islands, shall be 
correctly delineated upon said map in such manner as may be 
prescribed by the State Engineer and Surveyor. 

§ 6. It shall be the duty of the supervisor of each town or 
ward that may hereafter be erected or altered, to transmit to the 
county clerk a correct delineation of the town so altered or con- 
structed; and it shall be the duty of the clerk of each county 
that may be erected or altered, or that may contain any town 
that may have been altered or erected, or in which any canal, 
railroad or other public improvement may have been completed 
subsequent to the transmission of the county map as provided 
for in section 2, of this act, to transmit to the State Engineer 
and Surveyor an authenticated copy of the county so altered or 
erected, or containing towns which may have been so altered or 
erected, or containing said canals, railroads or other public im- 



6 [Assembly 

provements which may have been constructed, and to place the 
original of said corrected county map on file in th© clerk's oflQ.ce 
of said county; and it shall be the duty of the State Engineer 
and Surveyor to cause to be delineated upon said map of the 
State, the bounds of all towns or counties so altered or erected 
by the Legislature, together with all such canals, railroads, or 
other public improvements, as may hereafter be constructed in 
this State. 

The expenses incurred by the respective supervisors and 
county clerks, or by the State Engineer and Surveyor, upon the 
neglect or refusal of said supervisors and county clerks in car- 
rying out the provisions and requirements of this act, shall be 
assessed and levied, by the board of supervisors, upon the re- 
spective cities and towns, in and for which said expenses shall be 
incurred. 

^ 7. The State Engineer and Surveyor is authorised to adopt 
the means necessary for ascertaining the latitude and longitude, 
altitude and true meridian, of some permanent point or mon- 
ument, at or near each county seat in this State, for the purpose 
of fixing said points with the greatest accuracy upon the afore- 
said map of the State, provided the expenses attending the same 
do not exceed the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. 

§ 8. The State Engineer and Surveyor is authorized to secure, 
for the benefit and in the name of the people, the copy right of 
the State, county and township maps, and contract in behalf of 
the State for the engraving and publication in atlas form of the 
said county maps, which said atlas shall also contain such sta- 
tistical or other information in relation to the population, 
wealth, resources, geology and climatology of the State as may 
be compiled from the latest census, or from other reliable sources 
in a convenient form for publication; and he is also authorized 
to contract for the publication of the said map of the State, upon 
such scale and in such convenient form as he may determine, 
and guarantee to the parties with whom he shall make such 
contracts, the exclusive enjoyment of the copy rights of the said 
atlas and map for the term of their duration. 



No. 114.1 7 

§ 9. If any parties proposing to enter into contract for the 
publication of said atlas and map, shall have made the necessary 
surveys for the townships and county maps with such accuracy 
as to meet the requirements of this act, and shall furnish the 
results of such surveys to the supervisors and county clerks 
throughout the State ; the State Engineer and Surveyor may 
contract with such parties for the said publication- and the en- 
joyment of the said copy rights, on such equitable terms as will 
give said parties a fair compensation for their surveys, and se- 
cure to the State a sufficient number of copies of the said atlas 
and map for use in all public offices and for general distribution 
and exchange; and in contracting for such publication with 
parties who shall have made and shall furnish as aforesaid any 
portion of such surveys, the State Engineer and Surveyor is au; 
thorised to allow an equitable consideration for such surveys; 
but no sale or disposition of the said copy rights shall be made, 
which does not produce to the State a sum equivalent to the cost 
to the State of all the said surveys and other information togeth- 
er provided for by this act. 

§ 10. All laws or parts of laws which conjBlict, or in any man- 
ner interfere with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed. 

§ 11. This act shall take eifect immediately. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 

The undersigned asks leave to call the attention of the Chief 
Engineer, to the materials which he has prepared for the map 
and atlas of New-York, recommended to the Legislature in the 
annual report as being much needed. 

I have actual and accurate surveys of nearly all the counties 
composing the State, and can in a few weeks complete the whole 
number. They have been made at a cost of about thirty-five 
thousand dollars, and embrace an amount of topographical in- 
formation that is invaluable to the citizens. I now propose to 
reduce these county maps to an uniform scale, and make a more 
complete map and atlas of New- York than is possessed by any 
State in America, 



8 [Assembly 

To do this as thoroughly as should be done for New- York, 
accurate observations of latitude and longitude, and topography- 
are needed, on a scale of expense far beyond the means of a 
private enterprise. Could the Engineer's department be autho- 
rized to have these executed by competent parties, the work 
would be of practical and permanent benefit, and the State 
would possess, at a cost of 120,000, afar more valuable and com- 
plete map than was obtained by the much smaller State of 
Massachusetts at a cost of between one and two hundred thousand 
dollars. 

The time throughout the State could then be accurately and 
easily adjusted weekly or oftener from the Dudley Observatory. 

The air line distance from distant or near points could be 
readily told to within a few yards, and accurate knowledge 
would be substituted for the loose and inaccurate estimates of 
distances now used. 

Permanent land marks, valuable in all time to come, will be 
settled ; and the variations of the compass that now perplex sur- 
veyors and throw doubt on land boundaries, will be easily cor- 
"rected. 

The general surface of the country would be delineated accu- 
rately for any proposed roads, canals or railroads, or lor future 
geological research. 

A valuable contribution to geological science would be made, 
and an example set to other States of what should be done by 
all, to secure definite notions of American geography. 

I ask leave to call attention to the accompanying letters from 
Governor Seward; the superintendent of the coast survey, A. 
Dallas Bache; and J. P. Lesley, one of the first engineers of the 
country. They contain plans and estimates for the work alluded 
to, and it will be seen that Professor Bache has generously offer- 
ed to superintend the work without compensation. 
I subscribe myself, very respectfully, 

ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH. 
S, Seymour, State Engineer ^x., Albany^ JY. Y. 



No. 114.] 9 

( COPY. ) 

Washington, March 25, 1856. 
My Dear Sir, — The plan of a large topographical map of the 
State of New- York has been submitted to me, from which I infer 
that the work when completed will be an eminently useful one. 

It has occurred to me, that it would be a valuable addition to 
the map, if the latitude and longitude of various points in the 
State, exactly ascertained, could be noticed on it. Can you sug- 
gest any mode by which this could be done through the aid of 
the observers engaged in your bureau 1 
I am, with respect, &c.. 

Your obedient servant, 

WM. H. SEWARD. 
Prof. A. D. Bache, &c. &c. 



( COPY. ) 

Coast Survey Office, 
■ Washington, March 27, 1857. 

My Dear Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of 
your letter of March 25th, in regard to the map of the State of 
New- York, by Mr. Robert P. Smith. The suggestion that the 
latitude and longitude of various points in the State could now 
be determined with a view to greater completeness to the map 
strikes me as a very useful one. The longitude of the most im- 
portant county seats upon or near the railroads can be deter- 
mined by telegraph and be referred to the Dudley Observatory at 
Albany, the arrangements for opening which are complete, and 
which is now for the first time available for this purpose. The 
importance of the regulation of the time along the line of these 
roads is obvious, and the trustees of the Dudley Observatory 
have already called the attention of the directors of the Central 
and of the Erie roads to it, and have at least in one case, met a 
favorable response. They have also laid the subject before the 
mayor of the city of New- York, by whom it has been presented 
in terms of approbation to the councils. The air line distances 
of the principal cities and towns of the State from each other 

[Assembly, No. 114.] % 



10 [Assembly 

would be given by observations of latitude and longitude. Where 
the telegraph does not afford facilities for determining the lon- 
gitude, the transportation of chronometers would give an ap- 
proximate result. 

The placing of suitable marks on the true meridian, the posi- 
tion of which at each place, would be determined by observa- 
tion, would enable surveyors to determine at any time the vari- , 
ation of the compass and its changes, and thus avoid much of 
the diflaculty in identifying the lines of former surveys, and in 
running new lines. 

The latitude and longitude of say ten principal county seats, 
on or near the Central and Erie railroads, could be accurately 
determined for about twenty-five hundred dollars, exclusive of 
the pay of the observer. The latitude of all the county towns 
of the State, and the approximate longitude, could be determin- 
ed for about fifteen thousand dollars, and this would fix accu- 
rately geographically, so many (59) points in the State map to 
serve as points of standard reference for the rest of the map. 

If the Secretary of the Treasury assented, I could organize 
the system of observation for the State, and would do so cheer- 
fully, and of course, without remuneration. 

With the same approval, suitable instruments could from time 
to time be lent from the coast survey and observers could be 
trained at the Dudley Observatory, and in our parties without 
expense. 

It is even possible that occasional volunteers might be found 
who, at a season of relief from coast survey field work, might 
make their regular computations at these points, and direct or 
even do part of the observing. 

The regular work of the coast survey assistants is too ex- 
hausting and continuous however, to make this other than a vol- 
unteer matter to be undertaken occasionally. 

Yours respectfully, 

A. D. BACHE, 

Superintendent. 
Hon. Wm. H. Seward, U. S, Senate. 



No. 114. J 11 

Philadelphia, Dec. Zlst, 1856. 
Bear Sirj — In acknowledging the receipt of your favor where- 
in you do me the honor to request my opinion of what should be 
done to represent upon the State map of New-York, the geology of 
the State, I reply that the geology of the palaeozoic regions like 
that of southern or central New-York, is adequately expressed 
only by the topography or relief structure. By this alone when 
it is justly rendered to the eye, the geologist can read the strata, 
and their relationship. But it is essential that the details of the 
surface be put in — not conjecturally as is always to a great ex* 
tent done, but precisely as they exist ; in which case also 
structural laws exist, which no other method suffices to discover. 
To do this for New- York, peculiar facilities are now afforded by 
Mr. E. Pearsall Smith's county maps and surveys, in which the 
whole preliminary work is done, at a great expense; and now, 
the topographer with one or two assistants, in a single season, can 
lay down upon these, and afterwards upon a reduced scale upon 
the State map, accurately all the features of the surface — at the 
same time the out crops of the formations will go in according to 
the directions given to them by the contour lines of the surface. 

The expense would not exceed I think five thousand dollars. 
The Adirondac region is very much a terra incognita still, and 
should be studied, for it contains not only great wealth, but the 
solution of certain curious and important geological problems. 
Prof. James Hall would no doubt explain the peculiar interest 
geologists are forced to take in the determining by some careful 
survey, based upon accurate topography, the structure of this 
anomalous portion of the State, belonging as it in fact does to 
the Labradorian region. 

There are a sufficient number of main lines of canal and rail 
road leveled across the State to serve as a basis for a well 
arranged system of aeroid observations, of which the contour 
lines can be every where drawn with an approximation to truth 
sufficiently near for every practical and scientific purpose; and 
if the desired astronomical determination of a number of county 
seats were made, the most elaborate ordinance survey, costing 



, 12 [Assembly 

say a million of dollars, would attain results of little additional 
value; in fact, nothing would be left to be done in the way of a 
clear, true and useful picture of the State. 
I beg leave to subscribe myself, dear sir, 

Very respectfully, yours, 

J. P. LESLEY, 
Topographical Engineer. 

Philadelphia, Feb. 20, 1857 
Col. S. Seymour, State Engineer: 

Dear Sir, — In the prosecution of scientific researches in regard 
to climate, I have recently given much attention to those in the 
sense of Geography, and at a very recent address before the 
Geological society of New- York, several eminent gentlemen sug- 
gested the application of this geography of climates to the area 
of the State of New- York, in greater detail and with greater pre- 
cision than could be done in the large maps I then employed, 
which were for the whole United States. 

Such an illustration may readily be added to State and county 
maps, and as I learned at Albany that extensive maps are being 
prepared under the auspices of your office, I write to urge upon 
you to permit the addition to them of such an illustration as I 
propose. 

The State has, as you are aware, given attention for more than 
thirty years to the collection of climatological statistics at the 
colleges and academies, and this mass is now amply sufficient 
to define the climate of every part of the State clearly. The 
mode of doing this by isothermal, and rain or hyetal charts, has 
recently been perfected under the auspices of the Surgeon Gene- 
ral's office of the War department at Washington, and not only 
the scientific public and the State, but the whole country, would 
be greatly interested in seeing this system applied to the State 
of New-York, giving a geography of the climates as well as of 
surface. If such an opportunity -as I suggest is offered by gen- 
eral maps, the very large expense of engraving which would 
attend an independent efibrt to so represent its climates will be 
saved, and a sum of two thousand five hundred dollars would 



No. 114.] IS 

furnish all the drawings of this matter in the most complete 
form, with the proper statistics and text in explanation. Should 
the State undertake the representation of physical features of 
any sort, I trust the climate may not be passed over, when at so 
small an expense, so thoroiigh and valuable a representation can 
be made, and this to accompany every map of the State. 
Very respectfully, your ob't serv't, 

LORIN BLODGET. 
P. S. The general maps I understand to be in progress or at 
least in design under your auspices, are of great interest to those 
who desire accurate work, and whatever scientific departments 
may be added to them, I trust they may in no contingency fail 
to be authorised by the Legislature. 



Office of the State Engineer and Surveyor, 
Mhany, February 23c?, 1857. 

Messrs. Robert Pears all Smith & J. H. French. 

Gentlemen, — I understand that you have in your possession 

accurate surveys of fifty-seven counties in this State, and that 

the surveys of the remaining three counties are now in course 

of preparation; and also that you have it in contemplation to 

publish a State map and atlas which shall be based upon these 

surveys. 

The Legislature have recently passed a resolution of enquiry, 
a copy of which I enclose herewith, with reference to supplying 
the deficiency which now exists in the office of the State Engi- 
neer and Surveyor with authentic maps of the difierent counties 
and of the State. And with a view to answering this resolution, 
I feel authorised to ask you to make a proposition, stating the 
terms upon which you will furnish to the clerk of each county 
and city in this State, such information as will enable him to 
furnish to the office of the State Engineer and Surveyor an au- 
thenticated map of his respective city or county, upon which 
shall be correctly delineated, upon such scale as may be pre- 
scribed by the State Engineer and Surveyor, all creeks, rivers, 
lakes, coasts, islands, roads, railroads, canals and other improve- 
ments, together with all town lines, and original grant, lot and 



14 [Assembly 

reservation lines, with the general topography of the county, 
and such other information as may be required by the clerk, in 
order to enable him to furnish to the State Engineer such a map 
of the county or city as may be required by law. 

In naming the terms above referred to, it will be proper for 
you to specify, as a consideration for the same, that you shall 
have the exclusive right to publish said county and State maps, 
as the same may be authenticated by the State Engineer under 
the authority of the Legislature, for a limited number of years, 
and that you will furnish to the State a specified number of the 
same for use, exchange and distribution. 

Tours respectfully, 

S. SEYMOUR, 
State Engineer and Surveyor. 



New- York, February^ 24, 1857. 
To. Col. S. Seymour, State Engineer and Surveyor: 

We are in the receipt of favor of the 23d inst., and in reply 
would state, that we will furnish to each county clerk through- 
out New-York State, the materials necessary to enable him to 
make correct maps of the towns composing his county accord- 
ing to the requisitions of the law, free of charge, wherever our 
materials embrace all the lot and reservation lines in existence, 
which is in, say twenty-six counties. Where our surveys do not 
include the lot and reservation lines, we will furnish topograph- 
ical surveys free of charge, and will, when desired, insert the 
lot and reservation lines for twenty-five dollars per town. 

Or, we will furnish to the several county clerks, maps of ev- 
ery town in their respective counties, ready draughted as provi- 
ded by law, for twenty-five dollars per town, and will then on 
publication deliver, free of charge, a copy of the atlas of the 
State to each of the State ofSces at Albany, and one to each 
county clerk's oflBce throughout the State, with fifty copies to 
the State for exchange. 

As a consideration for this information furnished to the State 
free of charge, we shall expect to have the exclusive right to 



No. 114.J 15 

publish said county and State maps as the same may be authen- 
ticated by the State Engineer under authority of the Legislature, 
for the full term of the copy right of the said map and atlas. 
Also, we are to have for the map and atlas the results of the 
astronomical observations ' proposed to be made for the State of 
New- York, by the superintendent of the United States coast sur- 
vey. Also any geological and meteorological statistics in pos- 
session of the State previous to the issue of the atlas and map in 
its several editions. 

Should the State accept this proposition, we are prepared to 
proceed energetically and promptly with the work and to bring 
it to an early completion. 

Very respectfully, &c., 

ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH, 
J. H. FRENCH. 





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